"Doubt"

Weather: Overcast most of the day although the solar panel set a record for the maximum amps to date of 7.15 so we had some sun! Temp range was 72o – 88o; winds continue to be strong out of the south at 20 – 25 knots.

Comment: Today is a good day for chillin’! We hung out on the boat and worked on the logs and the internet (we signed on to YachtSpots for a week).

It was late afternoon by the time we got off the boat. After dinner, we walked to the Riverside Theater anticipating another evening of live theater. “Doubt: A Parable” was playing. In his “notes from the Director,” Allen D. Cornell states, “ Not often do we get to tackle a script that confounds our reasoning on so many levels. The delicate balance between conviction and uncertainty is a daily struggle for peace of mind. Truth is in the eye of the believer. Our personal truths are comforting. What happens when the truth is challenged – when the very foundation a truth is built upon is undermined by vague perceptions and unsubstantiated allegations? Doubt creeps out and our world is veiled in shadows that never recede. Doubt is a good thing. Doubt forces us to examine our perceptions from as many different angles as our strained conscience can endure. Ultimately, learning to accept that perhaps there is no last word is the true value of doubt. Perhaps…”

The play takes place in a Catholic School in 1964. The Mother Superior (Sr. Aloysius) and eighth grade teacher Sr. James suspect Father Flynn is having an inappropriate relationship with the schools only African-American student but there is no hard evidence. The child’s mother is approached by Sr. Aloysius. The hierarchy of the 1964 Catholic church and the mores of the time confound resolution to the situation.

This play, by John Patrick Shanley was the winner of the 2005 Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award. We can see why. If you ever have the opportunity, it is very worthy of your time.

After the play, we participated in the “Talkback.” The stage manager and the actors joined the audience to answer questions and participate in a discussion of the play. Anna Marie and I were intrigued with several aspects of the play and had several questions for the actors. It was a great opportunity to talk to actors about their craft.

We had a terrific evening!